Convertible container tops



Oct. 13, 1964 s. c. scHLo'rzHAUER ETAL 3,152,714

CONVERTIBLE CONTAINER Tops Filed Deo. 29, 1961 IN V EN TOR` United States Patent O This invention relates to improvements in convertible tops for jars and other containers, and more particularly to a convertible cover for jars, which can serve as the original closure for jars and is adapted to be inverted and manipulated to convert the jars into wind-proof ash receptacles.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a simple and inexpensive device of the kind indicated which enables the conversion of a jar, such as a foodcontaining jar which is usually thrown out or disposed of when its contents have been exhausted, into a relatively large capacity ash receptacle, without the purchase or other provision of means for such conversion.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated above, which is uncomplex, is composed of only two simple and easily made components, consisting of a cover and a retainer ring for the cover, the cover being originally securably engaged on and closing the upper end of a jar, with the ring circumposed on the jar and held in place by the ring, and the retainer ring being invertible to extend above the cover and provide a-wind-guard and ash fenceV for the cover, the cover being formed with a weakened line or lines which deline an area of the cover to be removed to provide an opening through which ashes fall into the jar.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings: l

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away and in section, showing a top of the presentv invention applied to a jar before conversion to an ash receptacle;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view like FIGURE 1, showing the top converted and showing a removable closure ball for the cover opening; and

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of FIGURE 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views,

' a conventional open-top glass jar 10 is shown, which has a reduced diameter cylindrical neck 12, on its upper end, having an upper surface 14; Where the neck 12 joins the side wall 14 of the jar, a shoulder 16 is formed. A convertible top 18 in accordance with the pre'sent invention, is-shown applied to the neck 12.

The top 18, which is made of relatively thin and rigid non-combustible material having limited resilience, comprises a a circular cover 2li, composed of a downwardly dished disc 22, and a pendant annular retaining liange 24 on the peripheral edge of the disc. The depressed cen-VA tral area 26 of the disc 22 is formed with a concentric circular weakened line 28, so thatrwhen the area'26 is forced downwardly, the area is disconnected from the disc 22 to provide a circular central opening 30 therethrough. As shown in FIGURE'I, the cover 20ris originally applied atkthe factory to the open top 0f the jar 10, with the disc 22 resting upon the upper surface 14 of the neck 12, and with its retaining flange 24 closely surrounding and frictionally engaged with the exterior of the neck 12, and spaced upwardly from the shoulder 16.

3,152,714 Patented Oct. 13, 1964 ICC The convertible top 18 further comprises a retaining ring 32 which consists of an upper circular iiat band 34, not substantially larger in diameter than the jar neck 12 and dimensioned for a snug iit around the retaining ange 24 of the cover 20, a lateral annular web 36, on the lower edge of the upper band 34, and a lower circular llat band 38. The lower band 38 extends downwardly from the outer edge of the web 36 and can spacedly surround the jar side wall 17. As shown in FIGURE 2, the corner 40 defined between the upper band 34 and the web 36 can have stop engagement with the jarshoulder 16, for supporting the retaining ring 32 in engagement with the vcover flange 24. The upper band 34 has, spaced from its upper and lower edges, an inwardly pressed stop annulus 42 which engages the lower edge of the cover retaining llange 24, whereby the retaining ring 32 is prevented from becoming upwardly displaced in relation to the cover 20 and the jar 10.

After consumption of the contents of the jar 10, conversion -to an ash receptacle is accomplished simply by pushing out the cover disc area 26 to provide the ash transfer opening 30, inverting the retaining ring 32, replacing t on the jar neck 12, so that the then lower edge 44 of the upper band 34 can rest upon the jar shoulder 16, and then replacing the cover 20 on the neck 12, so that the lower edge of its retaining ange 24 bears retainably upon the stop annulus 42, and so that the lower band 38 extends upwardly beyond the cover 20, as shown in FIGURE 3, and provides an ash fence for the cover 20. The fence 38 can be formed, from its free and then upper edge 46, with diametrically opposed rows of narrow V-shaped notches 48, the remainder of the fence between imperforate. The notches 48 serve as holders for cigarettes or cigars extended inwardly therethrough over the cover 20,` and asA limited accesses for wind blowing across the top 18,v whereby blowing of ashes, deposited on the cover 20,-is prevented.

If desired, and as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the top 18 can be made further wind-proof and the ash receptacle rendered self-extinguishing, by providing a closure ball 50, larger in diameter than and adapted to be removably seated in `the cover opening 30. Positioned in the cover opening 30, the ball 50 not only prevents ashes from being blown out of the receptacle through the opening 30, but seals the receptacle so as to stop combustion within the jar 1) and extinguish any burning ashes and burning cigarettes and cigar butts present therein.

w Although there has been shown and described herein a preferred form of the invention, Vitis to be understood that the invention is'not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claim appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

In an ash receptacle, a jar having a reduced neck having an upper surface and an outstanding shoulder at the lower end of the neck, a convertible top for the jar cornprising a cover having a downwardly dished disc having a central opening and a pendant peripheral retaining liange, said disc bearing upon the upper surface of the neck with the retaining liange frictionally surrounding the neck, a removable retaining ring surrounding the cover and comprising-an upper band frictionally engaged with the cover flange said band having an inwardly extending stop annulus'engaged with the lower edge of the cover flange, a lateral annular` web on the upper band below the stop annulus, and a lower band extending downwardly from the outer edge of the web, the meeting of the web and the upper band defining a corner adapted`to rest upon the jar shoulder, said upper band having a free edge,

ITS

above the cover and defining an ash fence therefor, the f free edge of the upper band being engaged With the jar yshoulder and -the stop annulus with the lower edge of the cover flange.

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- References Cied in theile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hare Dec. 12, Traum Apr. 27, Leiman Sept. 9, Schmaling Apr. 29, Nelson Mar. 26, 

